Berita

Yogyakarta—To deal with the global goals which has been agreed by the world leaders in 2015, so-called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Islamic teachings have to be interpreted and contextualized in accordance with the recent context by using approach named Māqasidi approach. Dr. Aly Abdel Moneim, who is currently serving as Director at Mahad Maqashid Indonesia, argued that maqasid are the ultimate ends of life (worldly and afterlife) from Islamic perspective and therefore attempted to derive those Maqasid from Al-Quran to construct the principle base so as to reinterpret, criticize and develop the concept of sustainable development.

The second day of the summer school focused initially on the Maqashid concept and sustainable development as previously described by Dr. Aly, besides there were also subsequent discussions on the integration of knowledge that has been practiced in Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) as well as on Islamic Microfinance Institutions called Baitul Māl wat Tamwīl (BMT). Attended by approximately 30 active participants, the agenda was held in the same venue as before, Meeting Hall, AR Fakhruddin A, 5^th floor.

He first explained carefully that Maqasid have two meanings, namely micro and macro, saying:” The micro ontology designates the classification of Maqasid as a system of Islamic highest objectives. The macro ontology of Maqasid designates the ontology in its primordial meaning; i.e. classification of existence. While endeavoring to map Maqasid classification (the micro ontology) in Quran, another unique classification of the existence will start to shape as well. Put another way, ‘macro ontology’ of Maqasid represents the main elements of the existence, whereas ‘micro ontology’ represents the ends of relationships among those elements as being commanded by Almighty God.”

After the definition was proposed, he then described in greater detailed the concept of development based on Maqasid can thus be built through: (1) Qur’anic concept, (2) Ayat Mu’allalat, (3) Istiqra’ and (4) Habits of Rasulullah and Companions. By implementing those methods, it is expected that the sustainable development in Islamic perspective can be achieved.

In addition, Dr. Imamudin Yuliadi discusses further the practice of Integration of Knowledge in UMY which has been implemented in Department of Economics where he is serving as a head of the program. Jamil Abbas MBA discussed the recent development of BMT in Indonesia which is now growing rapidly, stressing: “Microfinance is NOT “micro”-size financing, but finance for “micro” community. The value does not have to be “micro”, but the idea must be “giant” as it is about alleviating poverty, not just about providing financing.” [Aw]